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Success comes in all forms but underpinning it is usually a very strong support base. Simon Clifford is a football coach who has worked with several England internationals including Theo Walcott, Michael Owen and Micah Richards. He also trained Keira Knightley for her part in the film ‘Bend It Like Beckham’, and something he has identified as a common thread among each of those stars is an extremely strong paternal influence.
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Keira Knightly in the film 'Bend it like Beckham' |
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“It’s interesting to see,” he says. “A big thing for Theo is the family he has around him. His dad, Don, is like his best friend and has been with him every step of the way, and I knew Keira Knightley at a similar age and she was the same with her mum, Sharman. That was also true of Michael Owen with his dad Terry and also Juninho. You can’t overestimate how important that foundation is.”
“Coaches can help young sports people, but their parents are often the most important people in what they have achieved. It’s the same in any sport. Yes, you can get to the top without that parental support if you have the drive and ambition but that support structure can be vital.”
The dedication and commitment of some table tennis parents in supporting their children is incredible. They drive the length and breadth of the country and give up virtually every spare hour to ferry them to practice and tournaments. Gavin, Bradley and Myles Evans are all among Britain’s top young prospects and their mum even arranged to have a shed built in the garden where they have a table so that they can train. The financial cost of entering and travelling to tournaments as well as the constant need for new rubbers and other equipment is also huge. Then there is the requirement of emotional support at the time of those inevitable defeats, as well as the skill of keeping their feet firmly on the ground if they do record a significant victory. Geoff Ware, whose son Matt is among the country’s top ten juniors describes himself as a “mentor, secretary, chauffeur, corner man, drinks and food provider”.
Like England’s other emerging young players, Ware dreams of representing England by the time of the London Olympics in 2012. His story is certainly not unusual and his dad, Geoff, estimates to have paid out some £30,000 to fund training, competition and equipment over the past six years.
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“Since Matt took off in table tennis terms from when he was nine in 2000 I have devoted on average 30 weekends a year in the last six-seven years and probably three times a week for evening training,” he says.
“We have been fortunate to travel to Sweden, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Czech Republic and Bosnia all of which could not have been possible without both of our commitment and without England selection. We have worn out three cars in our travels around England and Europe and, at a conservative estimate, driven about 40,000 miles.”
Geoff has been involved in table tennis from a young age, although he did not have the opportunity to play in tournaments.
“I realised early on that Matt had something special, his appetite for the game, his keenness to train, his determination and drive to get right to the top, has been an inspiration for me,” he says. “The roller coaster of emotions I have gone through these last years with Matt at tournaments you could write a book about. We have met some wonderful characters through the sport and long may it continue.”
He estimated that Ware goes through 16 rubbers a year on top of the constant need for new blades, shoes, shirts, shorts, socks and Butterfly track suits. He has received sponsorship from a drink company called TAUT as well as SportsAid SouthWest, while Tees Sport supplies his equipment. “Without their support, I don’t think Matt would be where he is now,” says Geoff. |
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England International footballer Micah Richards |
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The journey will take them across Europe next year when Matt will spend a year training in Sweden. “All the sponsorship money has been put into Matt’s bank account, and will pay for his accommodation and training/playing in his 6-12 months out in Sweden. His ever demanding need for better coaching and top quality sparring has taken us to so many clubs and has now finally meant going abroad, to receive higher standards of all round TT.”
It is some commitment. The rewards, however, are impossible to quantify. “We are living the dream – it’s worth every penny,” says Geoff
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